Mr Beautiful by RK Lilley

I’ve been remade four times in my life. 

It is a distinct feeling. Impossible to mistake. The very marked sensation of being unraveled and reknit into a new thing, a new person. It can be good or bad, helpful or harmful, but above all, it is unstoppable. 

I was remade when my parents died, went from a happy childhood, into navigating a very dark world, with endless responsibilities, surrounded by enemies, and despairingly alone. 

It happened again at the hands of a cowardly predator. I’d become angrier with that one, more cynical, and it undoubtedly turned me into the kinky f**k I was today. 

The third happened swiftly. One day I looked up into a pair of pale blue eyes and saw the other half of my soul. Checkmate. I went from a completely controlled existence, a life where I made every decision with cold calculation, to a man overcome with feelings and emotions that were foreign but somehow wonderful. 

And all too soon after that cataclysmic change was this fourth one, this one where I begged a God I’d never entertained to spare the life of a woman that I could not live without. 


I went on a high upon learning that this book was coming out because hello? Who doesn't want to read more of Mr James Cavendish? But then after all the dust have settled, I realized that the first three books in the series were really put together so well and I hated the possibility that the story was going to be stretched too much because a fourth book was coming out. 

After many weeks of delaying, I finally decided to have a go at this book...because I felt that Mr Cavendish wasn't very happy about being looked over everytime I pick something else to read from my TBR pile. And man oh man, I have never been so happy to be proven wrong about my thoughts about a book!

There were just so many things I loved about this book. I got into James' head--whether it was in the past when he first met Bianca or later on in their relationship when he almost lost her after an attack. My god, the tears! I was practically crying in most parts of this book. And there were also more of Stephan and his relationship with Javier. Their story was just beautiful to read. Yes, you guessed it right--there were more tears.

Another thing I loved about this book was that it covered several years into the lives of James, Bianca, and their many friends. So this not only served as an extended epilogue for the Up In The Air series but of the stories of other well-loved characters that RKL have penned. What can I say except there were so much to love. 


Final verdict: 10/10. Great, must-read...especially for those who have already read the Up In The Air series already.


Up In The Air series reviews:
In Flight
Mile High
Grounded

Series Recommendation #13: The Wild Side by RK Lilley

If you have not started this series yet (although I wouldn't understand why you haven't yet), please, please do. It's imperative that you do.

The entire series seriously got me mind-blown. Well, RKL's books alwasy have that effect on me but this one? It had some serious stuff going on that my head was all over. What the hell. I was constantly going on what, what, what mode and I really thought all the mystery was going to get the better of me.

So I managed to hold in my frustrations (barely) and after the second book, I gave a shot at guessing one of the twists and I actually managed to be correct. But that ending though. Boy, oh, boy. As I said, mind-blown.

(Click on book titles for individual book reviews.)

The Wild Side

Iris

Dair

Dair by RK Lilley

After yet another shocking discovery, followed by a disturbing letter, Dair is almost certain Iris has left his life for good. He tries his best to move on. 

Easier said than done, and when an unexpected and dangerous opportunity arises for him to find out what happened to her, he doesn’t hesitate to take it. 

As usual, with Iris, the answer leaves him more lost than the question. 

Every revelation is shrouded in mystery, and every disclosure leaves Dair more in the dark than ever. 

And when finally, the messy truth is revealed in its entirety, will he be ready for it?


Ahhh, what can I say except that this is an epic conclusion to this series? I mean, RK Lilley is one of my most favorite recent authors and when you read something like this, you would understand why.

It had been one of a rollercoaster ride ever since the start of this series. And when I say rollercoaster, I mean the extreme kind. My feelings have been stretch quite to the limits in the first two books and I was glad to find to find out that nothing had changed when I read this one.

It was a bit disappointing though that I actually got the first twist in the book right even before I read it. Well, I had my hunches when I finished the previous book but I had my sad face on when I found out I got it right because, you know, I still love for plots to surprise me and prove me wrong.

Nevertheless, the second twist was something I did not expect. There's a much, much better surprise for me, after all. RKL just kept the goods coming in this series that learning about a spinoff series from it had me frothing at the mouth. Don't tell anyone. 


Final verdict: 9/10. Great read. 


The Wild Side series:
The Wild Side
Iris

Iris by RK Lilley

ARE YOU READY FOR A TWIST? 

Who is Iris? Where did she come from? Where has she gone? 

Alasdair Masters has more questions than answers about his new, too young obsession, and when he finds out she’s been lying to him, from their first meeting to their last one, he’s more confused than ever about her feelings, her intentions. 

And what’s just as confusing are his own feelings. Has he turned something purely physical into something emotional in his own head? Is any of it mutual? 

The only thing he doesn’t question is whether he’ll keep going back for more. 


Ahhh, the second book in The Wild Side series. After waking up at 5am today (on a Saturday!), I skipped my morning run and breakfast for this baby. And boy was I glad I did.

Dair and Hannah are at it again two months after their falling out at the end of the first book. But instead of getting answers, this book will leave you more questions that the first book did. I don't think I can handle any more intrigue than than what I already in my plate with these two but I am left with no choice. Such is life.

I would love to itemize some stuff from the book but that will be breaking out the spoilers. Let's just say that RKL is a master of putting together twists that'll hit you when you least expect them. I have given up trying to second guess her storylines and just leave everything to what I'm reading. Go with the flow, as they say. This book just gives more build-up to what, I expect, is going to be a fantastic third book.


Final verdict: 8/10. Great entertaining read.


The Wild Side series reviews:
The Wild Side

The Wild Side by RK Lilley

ARE YOU READY TO TAKE A WALK? 

Alasdair Masters is in a rut.  He just hit forty, has been nearly celibate for the past year, and his life has turned into a daily sequence of lonely patterns that revolve around avoiding human contact.   

His tidy life is turned on its head when a hot young blonde at the gym that’s been pseudo-stalking him decides to rock his world.  A very young blonde.  Way, way too young for him.  The problem is, he can’t seem to tell her no, and she just keeps coming back for more. 

It doesn’t help that he’s ninety percent sure she’s a criminal, and still, he can’t seem to turn her down.  What is a dull introvert to do when a chaotic cyclone that oozes sexuality comes twisting into his life?     

At first, he thinks she’ll give him a heart attack, but after his twenty-year marriage ended a year ago, he’s been a little lost, and when she comes crashing into his life, he realizes that he’s never felt more alive. 

Is a walk on the wild side just what he needs to get his on track or a disaster in the making?  Is it possible for someone that much younger to be just what he needs, or is she a fortune hunter, as everyone keeps telling him?  Is it his hormones telling him that the mysterious younger woman is the one, or could it be more?


I have been intrigued by this book ever since I read an excerpt. I would be intrigued by what ever RKL writes, to be honest. Up In The Air is still one of my favorite series so when she releases something new, I am bound to be a happy camper.

So the premise of this story isn't one of my favorites--I want my men and their ladies to be closer in age than not. But I was somehow intrigued enough to want to know what twist RKL will put in it. And I was right in setting aside whatever else I was reading to make way for this.

This is not a light read although not a dark romance either. It's somewhere in the middle with loads of lies, lack of trust, but also lust. Our two main characters just couldn't get their hands off each other even knowing that they were still keeping things from each other. As for the chemistry? RKL had that down pat.

What I liked best about this story is that this part was told from Alasdair's POV. This rarely happens because we almost always have stories start from the female POV. I was also hooked because damned if Iris wasn't overflowing with intrigue. She felt like a random character at the start and I just couldn't help second-guessing who or what she is and what she was really doing in Dair's life.

And that little teaser at the end of this book? OMG! If I could foam at the mouth, I prolly would. I can't wait for the second book! Hurry, hurry, hurry!!!


Final verdict: 8/10. Great read.

Lana by RK Lilley

Lana can’t remember a time when she wasn’t hopelessly in love with Akira. Even knowing that he viewed her as a kid sister had never helped to dampen her feelings. One night together only made it worse. After seducing Akira, it became apparent that their love affair was hopelessly one-sided, and heartbroken, Lana fled her beloved island paradise.

Eight years later, Lana finally returns home, planning to stay briefly, and only for business, but her plans go quickly awry when she runs into the man she could never get over.


I liked Lana just fine when I first met her in the RKL's Up In The Air series and I was pretty excited to get my hands on this read. Although I also know that this is a novella, in the end, I was kind of disappointed.

I am a huge fan of the Up In The Air trilogy and I was expecting the same connection I had with it with this book. Unfortunately, I didn't quite find it. I thought the book wasjust a bit rushed.

Nevertheless, it was still good to read Lana's story. She was quite the mystery when I read first read about her so it was a good fix to finally read her story and what she was all about, what made her tick. I wouldn't have minded her being more kickass and made Akira suffer just a bit.

This novella provided good closure if you have been intrigued by Lana's character in James and Bianca's trilogy, like I was.


Final verdict: 6/10. Okay read.

Series Recommendation #1: Up In The Air by RK Lilley

When I stopped book blogging many years back, I didn't know I would be missing so much. Yes, I kept on reading but I forgot just how fun it is if you have fellow bookworms that you can get recommendations from. All I had was tunnel vision. I'm not saying what I read during that time were bad. My reading just needed a little spicing up and variety.

Up In The Air was the first series that I finished when I decided to go back to reviewing books. I have already read the Fifty Shades, Crossfire, and Twilight series, just to name a few, during my hiatus although I have yet to re-read them for review. The first two, yes. The last one, never. *evil laugh*

I may read schmexy books almost all the time but it's good to know there are still stories that can surprise me. This one did, too. I almost forgot about Christian and Gideon. Almost.

Hello, Mr Cavendish. I'm glad to have made your acquaintance. You and Bianca made for a jaw-dropping couple. In a very good way. 

Here are my reviews of the trilogy:

Book 1: In Flight

Book 2: Mile High

Book 3: Grounded

This series also introduced some lovely secondary characters--that already had their own novellas and even another series. I have yet to read them though. I'm not ready to let these characters go so I'm taking it slowly through each book. Although I don't hear any noise for my two most favorite secondary characters: a Damien and Jessa story. I hope Ms Lilley changes her mind about that and gives me something in that department. A novella, perhaps? Ah, this girl can hope.

Wait, there's more. GoodReads just shows a Book 4: Mr Beautiful. Oh, lordy. Help meee.

Grounded by RK Lilley

James and Bianca’s story draws to a close in the explosive conclusion to the Up In The Air Trilogy.

After a short but earnest courtship, Bianca can no longer deny her feelings for James, and though she’s tried her hardest, she can’t help but see that he cares deeply for her, as well. In a completely uncharacteristic move, she has put aside her misgivings and agreed to live with the enigmatic billionaire. Is her leap of faith the beginning of something wonderful, or is it too much, too fast?

As James and Bianca feel a growing need for each other that neither can deny, circumstances beyond their control intervene, trying to tear them apart. Amidst the ever mounting threat of a monster who wants Bianca dead, and the constant pitfalls of an indiscreet past that James can’t seem to escape, can these two passionate lovers manage to find their happily ever after?


First, let me just say that I was so glad to find out that the titled chapters were back in this book. There are just so many adjectives we can use to describe Mr Beautiful and what better way to use them than as chapter titles.

Secondly, I was a bit saddened when I started this book because it meant that my affair with James Cavendish was almost at an end. The slut. Oops.

Well, that's how he called himself. It has been established in the first two books in this serious just how promiscuous James was before meeting Bianca. In this, that promiscuity became public fodder--in the form of a sex tape. Bianca might have been open-minded with James' previous exploits but this was one thing he thought was going to top all and end everything with them. 

Once again, the parallels with Fifty Shades were still there but I have stopped counting them. Mainly because there were differences and the most significant one being that James and Bianca did have a dom/sub relationship. Bianca had the kind of past that actually made her more accepting of the lifestyle.

Best things about this book: it had Bianca's, James', and Stephan's POVs; the number of different secondary characters that RKL are writing about in her next series (I am hoping, wishing, and praying for a Damien-Jessa story); James' generosity, relationship with Stephan (I mentioned this in my review of Mile High) and the way he helped Bianca everytime she had nightmares; Bianca's maturity compared to how she was at the beginning in In Flight; and studtastic James Archibald Basil Cavendish III!

And the scene that got me grinning like an idiot: the photoshoot!

Um, so, is there anything you can do about that, Mr Cavendish? This is not an x-rated publication... 

You'll just need to shoot me waist up. You were the one who wanted my girlfriend in the shoot, putting her hands on me. What did you think was going to happen? 

If we could shoot just waist up, that might not be a problem, but it seems to be a...bigger problem than that.

LOL!. I can't. I just can't.

As for my score for this book, I would have given this book a perfect ten. BUT! There's just one thing that didn't sit well with me: James giving Bianca body piercings. Ugh! I hated that part. I am 101% go when it comes to inks but piercings? Nuh-uh, no way. But then there it is.


Final verdict: 9/10. Great read, must have. (Of course!)

Mile High by RK Lilley

James and Bianca’s tumultuous story continues in the sequel to In Flight.

James has initiated Bianca into a dark and drugging world of passion and pain. He taught her about her own submissive, masochistic nature, and she fell swiftly and deeply in love with the undeniably charming and impossibly beautiful Mr. Cavendish, but a painful misunderstanding and the return of the brutally violent demon of her past have combined to overwhelm Bianca, and, confused and hurt, she pushes him away. 

It’s been over a month since the shocking attack that hospitalized her, and since she told a distraught James that she needed space, but her feelings haven’t gone away. Even she knew that it was only a matter of time before he would cast his spell on her again.


So continues the story of James Cavendish and Bianca Karlsson. This book picks up where the last book left--when Bianca was hospitalized after being attacked by her father. She had asked James for some space but James was still in constant contact with Stephan.

Now, let's talk about Stephan. I love this guy. He might not be the main "main" guy in this series but I just think he was an awesome character. Hot gay bestfriend alert! (Hello, Matt Bomer. Hello, Wentworth Miller. Hello, Luke Evans. Hello, Neil Patrick Harris.) I love how his character remained the constant rock in Bianca's life. The steadfastness of their friendship was a joy to read. The easy camaraderie that formed between Stephan and James was also something else. Considering that they were both the most important men in Bianca's life, it was a relief that the entrance of James into her life didn't cause any friction between Bianca and Stephan or Stephan and James.

This book also told more on the love story of Stephan and Javier. It was a story of trust and second chances. It was a side story worth journeying through in this series.

One of my most favorite parts in this book was...James got inked! I love inks myself so I think anyone that gets some tasteful tattoo will always be hot. He promised that he would be doing it to show Bianca how serious he was with her, that she was not just a passing fancy. And when James finally did it? *wolf whistles* 

If the first book left with Bianca's father attacking her, this one also left on another dark note. Bianca learned that her father had remarried but soon after she contacted Bianca, she also met the same fate as Bianca's mother--death by her husband's hand.

This book also introduced a number of new secondary characters that you can't help wishing they would have their own stories. It's a reflief that there is still a third installments just waiting to be read.

Final verict: 9/10. Great read, must have.

In Flight by RK Lilley

When reserved flight attendant Bianca gets one look at billionaire hotel owner James Cavendish, she loses all of her hard-won composure. For a girl who can easily juggle a tray of champagne flutes at 35,000 feet in three inch heels, she finds herself shockingly weak-kneed from their first encounter. The normally unruffled Bianca can't seem to look away from his electrifying turquoise gaze. They hold a challenge, and a promise, that she finds impossible to resist, and she is a girl who is used to saying no and meaning it.

Bianca is accustomed to dealing with supermodels and movie stars in her job as a first class flight attendant, but James Cavendish puts them all to shame in the looks department. If only it were just his looks that she found so irresistible about the intimidating man, Bianca could have ignored his attentions. But what tempts her like never before is the dominant pull he seems to have over her from the moment they meet, and the promise of pleasure, and pain, that she reads in his eyes.


Just when one thinks you only need Christian Grey in your life. Just the one, mind you. And then the world gives you James Cavendish. It was RK Lilley really. I don't even know where to start with this book. I'm neck deep in awesome. Read it in one go--missing some precious sleep and two meals.

This is the first book in the Up In The Air series. Geez, I hate it when I start reading a series when it's not done with the last book yet. Patience has never been one of my fortes. But then books do that to you, you know--that feeling that you just have to read them no matter what. But I'm just glad I have all three in the series.

So meet James. He had Grey written all over him. I'm sorry, but I can't help but draw some comparisons. But that doesn't mean he wasn't hot in his own right. Hot, hot, lip-smacking hot! And Bianca equally so. I loved her and her independent streak on the spot.

I'm not big on erotica and haven't read a lot from that genre. But I've never been more thankful to have stumbled on this book. Is it possible to love a book boyfriend more than Christian Grey? That's becoming more of a possibility and I've only read one book in this series so far. Two to go. Oh la la.


Final verdict: 9/10. Great read, must have.